This is the header image
Reflection on Nehemiah 8 (Week 17, 2026)
Maintaining our spiritual health
Reflection on Mark 7 (Week 15, 2026)
free devotional guides for your quiet time
‘If you had only six months to live, how would you spend that time?’ I have had occasion to ponder this question several times since I was in my mid-thirties. The first occasion was at a retreat to relax overnight with the staff of KGK (the Christian student movement in Japan), the organization I was …
Continue reading “If You Only Had Six Months To Live”
I am not a mother and I don’t even have a child. So it is difficult for me to even fathom what it is like for Mary to look up at the cross to see her son being slowly put to death; what’s worse, at the instigation of the Jewish authorities for blasphemy. The weight …
Continue reading “Mary, at the foot of the cross”
When I was commuting daily to work, I would leave the house in the morning when the air was brisk and enjoy my walk down the gradual slope to the station. Coming home was a different story. I would be tired after a long hard day of work and I had to walk uphill to …
Continue reading “Relearning To Walk”
When I was working on Colossians 3, the text for 2021 Week 20, I was taken up by the environment that Paul describes in verses 12-17. Firstly within the community there is “compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.” Here is a place where we find forgiveness and love. Secondly, the community encourages peace and gratitude. …
Continue reading “Conditions for growth”
During my first year after joining the staff of an international fellowship committed to evangelizing students in Asia, I was invited as a speaker to a staff training conference for the Indonesian Christian student fellowship. Upon arrival at the Jakarta airport, I was met by Brother I, the General Secretary of the Indonesian movement. Brother …
Continue reading “Silent Prayer In The Presence of God”
In an earlier article I wrote, ‘Sometimes recalling and reflecting on the past can bring great pain.’ This is often our experience when we recall our relationships with our families, particularly with our parents. I will never forget the reactions of students at seminars when we began to deal with the issue of relationships with …
Continue reading “Prayer That Covers Wounds”
So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. Matthew 28:8 Afraid, yet filled with joy. Yes that would describe it well, Mary Magdalene thought. When he delivered me from the demons it was like the sun finally came out, after a long and cold …
Continue reading “Mary Magdalene”
Since I began to take time to reflect on the experiences of each day, this reflection has become a very important part of my daily life, and I have gradually become able to hear the words of my heart. Furthermore, opportunities for fellowship with friends who will listen to those words have been given to …
Continue reading “Seeking Heart-Friends”
I rejoiced greatly in the Lord that at last you renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you were concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. (Philippians 4:10) When I read this, I didn’t quite believe Paul’s protestation that he is content. “Rejoice greatly” and “at last” told me that there has been a …
Continue reading “The Recipe for Contentment”
Gentleness Sensitivity of disposition and kindness of behavior, founded on strength and prompted by love. The Old Testament. Gentleness is suggested by the waters of a stream (Isa 8:6) or by wine flowing over lips and teeth (So 7:9). It stands in contrast to baseness (Deuteronomy 28:54, 28:56), harshness (2 Sam 18:5), and wildness (Job …
Continue reading “The Importance of Being Gentle”